Electric windshield defroster and wiper



March 31, 1936. uc cH 2,036,155

ELECTRIC WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER AND WIPER Filed April 16, 1935 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor March 31, 1936. LUCKAMCH 2,036,155

ELECTRIC WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER AND WIPER Filed April 16, 1935 2Sheets-Sheet Z [nvenlor Patented Mar. 31, 1936 UNITED STATES ELEOTBIGWINDSHIELD DEFROS'IEE AND WIPEE Alexander Luokanlch, Blnghamu No iApplication April 6. 1935. Serial No. racer (0i. it- -twi The presentinvention relates to new and useful improvements in electric windshielddefrosters and wipers and has for its primary obiect to provide, in amanner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character which, inaddition to functioning as a wiper in the usual manner, comprises novelmeans for preventing the formation of sleet, snow, and condensation orfrost on the windshield.

id Another important object of the invention is to provide a windshieldappliance of the aforementioned character which is adapted to beerrpeditiously mounted on either the inside or the outside of awindshield.

it Still another important object of the invention is to provide awindshield appliance of the character described of the type including anelectric element housing or casing and a wiper blade, together withnovel means for mounting it said blade in the housing or casing.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an electric windshielddefroster and wiper which will be comparatively simple in construction,strong, durable, highly emcient and reliable in it use, compact, lightin weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the following specifica-30 tion, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein likecharacters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views, and wherein:--

Figure 1 is a front elevational view, showing a to device in accordancewith the present invention mounted on the inner side of a windshield.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the invention.

Figure 3 is a view in vertical section through the invention, thesupporting means therefor being omitted.

Figure i is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on theline d-d of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view, taken 45 substantially on theline b-t of Figure 2, looking upwardly with some parts above the planeline t-b omitted.

Figure 6 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on theline tt of Figure 2.

so Referring now to the drawings in detail, it

will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has beenillustrated comprises an elongated, substantially tubular housing i ofany suitable metal having mounted therein an elec- 55 trio heatingelement 2. As will be understood by PATENT OFFICE comparison of s :1 2with Figures i, b and d, the end portions of the housing l aresubstantially circular in cross section, Figures i and 6, while theintermediate portion of the housing I] I is of the ss-sectional shapeshown in Figure t 5. One end of the heating element f is connected to abinding post i and insulated from the housing i, as at d, the other endof said heating element being electrically connected to said housing 1i, as at ll. Conductor es t and l are connected to the binding post iand the housing l, Z respectively.

The housi i is longitudinally slit from end to end on the side thereofwhich is adjacent the dshield t for the reception of the substani?" tlyvi -1 ped etallic back d of the wiper blade it which, in theerremplification shown, is in the form of a plurality of thin strips ofrubber. The wiper unit is designated generally by the reference numeralill. as illustrated to adi vantage in Figures i and 6 of the drawings,the end portions of the longitudiy split substantially tubular housing iare engaged on opposite sides of the back i. at spaced points, Figure 2,pairs of flanges ii are struck from the housing i and project therefromin spaced relation to the opposite sides oi the back d, as also shown toadvantage in Figures i and ii of the drawings. The nges it have openingsit formed therein. It will thus be seen that passages have been protivided for the escape of the heat from the element l. Of course, the heatmay also escape from the housing i at the open ends thereof.

A clamp i i of suitable metal is mounted on the housing l between thepairs of flanges it, 3 said clamp having the wiper unit i i ly securedbetween the end portions thereof by a bolt it (see Figure 5). The bightportion of the clamp it is squeezed together in a manner to provide aprojection or ear it upon which a clamp if is secure, as by a bolt it.Mounted on one end portion of the housing i is a post it through which asupporting arm it passes. One end portion of the arm it is secured inthe clamp ll by a screw it. A handle it is mounted on the a it.

i'he parts at the plane line t% on Figure l are preferably shaped incross-section as clearly shown in Figure 5.

At its other end, the arm it includes a substantially diagonallyextending portion it which terminates in an end portion it which extendsat right angles to said arm it, as best seen in Figure l of thedrawings. Journaled on the end portion 2d of the arm it is a pair'ofjaws it, said 5 lid jaws being adapted to receive therehetween e. stem26 which projects from o. suction cup N. A nut 28 retains the laws 25 onthe shank: 26. A spring 28 is mounted on the end portion 24 of the armIll and said spring is operetively connected to said arm in a manner toyleldingly urge the wiper blades it against the windshield.

The rubber suction cup 211 constitutes menus for mounting the applianceon the inner side of the windshield 8 to prevent condensation fromforming thereon or to remove condensation which has already formed."When the element 2 is errerglzed from the usual storage battery oi theautomobile through the conductors it end "i heated air m discharged fromthe housing i onto the whidshield 8 to remove condensation or pro ventits iorruetion, as will he readily understood. The device may heconveniently operated through the medium. of the handle ii. 'ihereference numersl 3d designates an angular stop on the free end portionof the housing i which is adepted to support the device against one sideof the ireme M of the windshield t, as seen in Figure 1 of the drawings.When it is desired to use the device on the outer side of theWindshield, as when said device is to he used as e Wiper or to preventthe formation of sleet or snow, said device is simply removed from thesuction cup 21 end attached to the usual shaft of e. conventionalwindshield wiper.

It is believed that the many advantages of an electric windshielddefroster end. wiper constructed in accordance with the presentinvention will be readily understood, and although e. preferredembodiment of the device is es illustrated and described, it is to beunderstood that changes in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of parts may be resorted which will i'ellwithin the scope oi the invention as claimed.

What is claimed iBt- 1. A windshield attachment of the class de scribedcomprising e, substantially tubular, longitudinslly split housing, onelectric heating element mounted in said housing, a wiper blade mountedin the longitudinal split of the homing end projecting therefrom forengagement with o windshield, the end portions of the opposed wells oithe housing being engaged with opposite sides oi the blade, said housingincluding pairs oi integral flanges extending on opposite sides of theblade in spaced relation thereto and defining heat chambers on each sideoi the blade thereoi, said iionges having openings therein, a clamponcircling the housing intermediate the pairs oi. ilunges and secured toopposite sides of the blade, end menus for mounting the housing forswinging movement-on the windshield.

2. A winwhield attachment of the class described comprising asubstantially tubular, longitudinelly split housing, an electric heatingelement mounted in said housing, a wiper blade mounted in thelongitudinal split of the housing and projecting therefrom forengagement with e windshield, the end portions of the opposed walls ofthe housing being engaged with opposite sides of the blade, said housingincluding pairs-of integral flanges extending on opposite sides of theALEXANDER LUCKANICH.

